Beefy bragging rights will be on the line when the Burger Showdown returns May 2 to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa.

For its third year, the event, which pits chefs from across the Tampa Bay area against each other in culinary competition, moves from Saturday to Friday, making it more attractive for the after-work crowd already in the downtown area.

Among those firing up their grills in this year’s showdown will be chefs from 2013 Best Burger winner Eats American Grill, 2012 winner Green Iguana, Ferg’s Sports Bar, Danny’s All America Diner and others.

Categories include Best Burger, decided by a panel of judges, and the People’s Choice Award voted on by attendees. There are also categories for best Where’s the Beef? (for non-beef burgers), Bring the Heat (for spicy burgers), and Best Use of Bacon.

Tickets are $20 in advance from burgershowdown.org or $25 at the event. Ticket holders will be allowed unlimited burger sampling and one drink ticket.

The event raises money for the Culinary Operations Academy Booster Organization, which provides financial resources and other assistance to Culinary Operations Academy students at Chamberlain High School.